It was in 1973 when Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad formed a group that would perform Ring Ring for the Eurovision Pop Music Festival. The song failed to win any price but it marked the rise to pop music greatness for the Swedish foursome collectively known as ABBA. They have ceased recording and performing together. But the sparkling brand of music they created over 40 years ago and which made them the most successful pop band of the ’70s lives on in the hearts and memories of their fans.
ABBA broke into big time after it finally won the Grand Prix at the Eurovision Song Festival with the song Waterloo in 1974. The many hits that followed caused the group to be dubbed Sweden’s biggest export and it remained so until the group broke up in 1982. Agnetha and Frida turned solo recording artists, while Benny and Bjorn concentrated on writing music and record production.
One of the duo’s best known works was the musical Chess which includes the songs One Night In Bangkok and I Know Him So Well. We still hear news about them from time to time but their days as ABBA have long been over and it will take a huge miracle for them to do the much-desired ABBA reunion. The songs though remain popular. In fact, ABBA music gained bigger popularity after it became the inspiration for the stage musical and later motion picture Mamma Mia!
It also helps that there exists this superb tribute group known as AbbaMania, which brings the closest thing to a true ABBA experience in concert, to venues all over the world.
Formed in the UK in 1998, AbbaMania gives music lovers, among the younger generations, the opportunity to watch what looks and sounds like an ABBA show at a time when it has become impossible to do so.
The group has performed in many sold-out concerts in Denmark, England, Portugal, Scotland, Belgium, France, Ireland, Germany and other parts of the world. The members were also a huge success in the Philippines a year ago and due to really insistent demand from ABBA loving Pinoys are back again for a series of AbbaMania performances this week.
Produced by Viva Live, Inc. and Redstone Media Productions, the AbbaMania shows will be held at the Solaire Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resorts & Casinos today; at the Plenary Hall of the PICC on Roxas Boulevard, tomorrow, March 22; at the Baguio Country Club in Baguio City on March 25; at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, March 27; at Island Cove Hotel & Leisure Park in Cavite, March 28; and then also on March 30 at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.
The reason for the success of AbbaMania lies not only on the ageless and brilliantly executed ABBA recordings but also on the talented artists who play the singers and the band. These are Ewa Scott, a classical singer who comes from Poland; Sharon Fehlberg an actress, singer and songwriter from Scotland; Steven Galert, the musical director who leads the band and singers through those famous multi-layered arrangements; plus Adam Robertson, a multi-instrumentalist from the UK; Bryan Smith, a guitarist from Scotland; guitarist Gareth Whitehead; and drummer Lee Brady.
So bring out those bell-bottom pants, platform boots and feather boas and brace yourselves for the ultimate nostalgic experience with ABBA music. You will surely have the time of your lives as you swoon and dance to nearly two hours of the AbbaMania. I do not know what the songs line-up will be but I am sure that many of your favorite ABBA songs will be done live just like the way ABBA would have performed them.
Ready now: Waterloo, Money Money, Take A Chance On Me, One Last Summer, The Winner Takes It All, Knowing Me Knowing You, Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Lay All Your Love On Me, Super Trouper, I Have A Dream, S.O.S., Chiquitita, Fernando, Voulez Vous, Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight), Does Your Mother Know, The Name Of The Game, Dance (While The Music Still Goes On), Honey Honey, I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do, Our Last Summer, Thank You For The Music and many others.
Tickets to Abbamania at the various venues are now avail-able at Ticketnet (with tel. no. 911-5555); SM Tickets, 470-2222; Ticketworld, 891-9999; PICC, 789-4734; and Viva Concerts, 687-7236. Ticket prices at the PICC are Flat Center P4,500; Flat Left/Right P3,750; Level 2 Center, Left/Right P3,750; Level 2 Side Left/Right P2,500; Level 3 Center Left/Right P2,500; Level 3 Side Left/Right P2,000; Balcony P1,000; and Gallery P600. The Cebu ticket prices are Platinum P3,500; Gold P2,500; Silver P1,500; and Bronze P600.